Our Mission

The mission of the Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS) is to provide independent and authoritative science, technology, engineering and related policy advice to the federal government and to the nation and to promote communications between the science and technology community, the federal government, and the interested public.

DEPS seeks to assess the role of science and technology in important public policy issues and to advance science and engineering, identifying needed research as well as improvements in data and research methods. In these ways, it fosters better science and technology and their use to support decisions on public policies and programs.

DEPS’ work is organized around four broad areas:

• Unique government missions in defense, space, and aerospace
• National infrastructure challenges such as energy and environmental systems, information and telecommunications, manufacturing and engineering design, civil engineering, and the constructed environment
• Science and engineering disciplines such as physics, astronomy, computer science and engineering, materials science and engineering, and the mathematical sciences and their applications.
• Continuing assessments of federal government laboratories and research programs 

Defense, intelligence, national security, space, and aerospace

Air Force Studies Board (AFSB)

Board on Army Science and Technology (BAST)

Naval Studies Board (NSB)

Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB)

Space Studies Board (SSB)

National infrastructure

Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES)

Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment (BICE)

National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB)

Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB)

Physical science, engineering disciplines, and assessment of laboratory research programs

Board on Mathematical Sciences and Their Applications (BMSA)

Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA)

Laboratory Assessments Board (LAB)

Board on Global Science and Technology (BGST)